Spring heel shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe with a spring heel is provided. The shoe includes a shoe top portion, a sole and a spring. The shoe top portion is operable to retain a user foot within. The sole is secured to the bottom of the shoe top portion. The sole includes a front toe portion and a rear heel portion. The rear heel portion includes an upper inner surface and lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion. The spring is disposed within the cutout portion. The spring includes an upper plate and a lower plate joined by a U-shaped bend. The upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface of the rear heel portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to a shoe with a spring heel sole.

There have long been athletic shoes having heels formed of deformable simulated rubber material or compressible foam material. One version is believed to include a heel panel spaced downwardly from the sole rearward segment and upright and compressible foam columns extending between the sole and heel panel. A problem with these prior heels has been that they are merely shock absorbers which dissipate energy as heat, and return negligible or none of this energy to the wearer to provide lift in an immediately subsequent step or jump.

As can be seen, there is a need for a shoe having a heel panel which deflects upwardly as the shoe impacts a support surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a shoe comprises: a shoe top portion operable to retain a user foot; a sole secured to a bottom of the shoe top portion and comprising a front toe portion and a rear heel portion, wherein the rear heel portion comprises an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion; and a spring disposed within the cutout portion and comprising an upper plate and a lower plate joined together by a U-shaped bend, wherein the upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a shoe comprises: a shoe top portion operable to retain a user foot; a sole secured to a bottom of the shoe top portion and comprising a front toe portion and a rear heel portion, wherein the rear heel portion comprises an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion; a metal spring disposed within the cutout portion and comprising an upper plate and a lower plate joined together by a U-shaped bend, wherein the upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface, wherein the upper plate covers a substantial portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate covers a substantial portion of the lower inner surface.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in a non-impacted state;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in an impacted state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes shoe with a steel alloy suspension system in the sole that absorbs shock and returns energy to the runner. The energy helps the runner run longer and reduces fatigue. Using a special alloy steel plate that is bent to create a suspension in the heel of the shoe, a runner can exert force on this suspension and receive enhanced running performance.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a shoe 12. The shoe 12 includes a shoe top portion 13, a sole 14 and a spring 10. The shoe top portion 13 is operable to retain a user foot within. The sole 14 is secured to the bottom of the shoe top portion 13. The sole 14 includes a front toe portion and a rear heel portion. The rear heel portion includes an upper inner surface and lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion. The spring 10 is disposed within the cutout portion. The spring 10 includes an upper plate and a lower plate joined by a U-shaped bend. The upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface of the rear heel portion.

The sole 14 of the present invention may be made of a compressible material, such as rubber, foam, leather, a combination, and the like. The cutout portion may be a U-shaped cutout portion starting at a rear edge of the rear heel portion extending towards the front toe portion, and then making a U-turn and extending back towards the rear edge of the rear heel portion. The U-shaped bend of the spring 10 nests within the U-turn cut of the sole 14.

The spring 10 of the present invention may be made of a metal, such as steel alloy, aluminum and the like. The upper plate and the lower plate may each be flat and are joined together by the U-shaped bend. The U-shaped bend may be about 180 degrees. The U-shaped bend biases the upper plate and a lower plate a distance from one another, forming a space in between. When the sole 14 impacts the ground while a user is running, the upper plate and lower plate bend towards one another. When the runner lifts the foot, the upper plate and lower plate bias away from one another to the distance forming the space in between.

The upper plate of the spring 10 covers a substantial portion of the upper inner surface of the sole 14 and the lower plate of the spring 10 covers a substantial portion of the lower inner surface of the sole 14. For example, the upper plate may cover an entire portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate may cover an entire portion of the lower inner surface. In certain embodiments, an outer edge of the spring 14 is flush with an outer edge of the sole 14. Therefore, the outer edge of the spring 14 may be rounded and conform with the outer edge of the sole 14.

When the athlete exerts force on the heel of the running or athletic shoe 12, the force compresses the spring 10. When this spring 10 is compressed, the spring 10 biases back to its original form and thereby decompresses, releasing energy to the ground providing additional thrust to the runner.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe comprising: a shoe top portion operable to retain a user foot; a sole secured to a bottom of the shoe top portion and comprising a front toe portion and a rear heel portion, wherein the rear heel portion comprises an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion; and a spring disposed within the cutout portion and comprising an upper plate and a lower plate joined together by a U-shaped bend, wherein the upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper plate covers a substantial portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate covers a substantial portion of the lower inner surface.
 3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the upper plate covers an entire portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate covers an entire portion of the lower inner surface.
 4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein an outer edge of the spring is flush with an outer edge of the sole.
 5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the spring is formed of metal.
 6. A shoe comprising: a shoe top portion operable to retain a user foot; a sole secured to a bottom of the shoe top portion and comprising a front toe portion and a rear heel portion, wherein the rear heel portion comprises an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface formed by a cutout portion; a metal spring disposed within the cutout portion and comprising an upper plate and a lower plate joined together by a U-shaped bend, wherein the upper plate is secured to the upper inner surface and the lower plate is secured to the lower inner surface, wherein the upper plate covers a substantial portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate covers a substantial portion of the lower inner surface.
 7. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the upper plate covers an entire portion of the upper inner surface and the lower plate covers an entire portion of the lower inner surface.
 8. The shoe of claim 6, wherein an outer edge of the spring is flush with an outer edge of the sole. 